Let’s take a look at the most important features

Apple has released iOS 18, the latest software update for its iPhone devices. Monday’s update comes ahead of the release of the new iPhone 16 and includes changes to the Home screen and Control Center, updates to Messages and a redesign of the Photos app, among other improvements.

The software update was first reported in June during the tech company’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which included an announcement about Apple Intelligence technology that was not included in Monday’s release.

Here’s what you need to know about the update and some of the key features:

Customize your Home screen and Control Center

Your phone’s home screen, but ✨aesthetically pleasing.✨ Apple is finally giving users more options to personalize their iPhone’s home screen.

In the iOS 18 update, users can place app icons and widgets in more flexible layouts, almost anywhere there is an open position on the screen. Users can also use the option to make app icons and widgets larger or choose to remove the name below.

There are also color tinting options available where users can apply any color they want to their apps/widgets or get suggestions for a color that will go with their wallpaper.

Dark Mode now extends to icons, allowing them to automatically adjust when your iPhone enters Dark Mode, or always stay in Dark Mode.

Control Center also offers more personalization options, such as grouping controls, the ability to resize them, displaying a gallery of all available controls, and better support for controls from third-party apps.

More: iPhone 16, new Watch and AirPods coming soon. But is Apple thinking differently enough?

News app updates

Changes to the Messages app in iOS 18 include more text effects, adding animated effects like waves or nods for letters, words, and emoji in iMessage. Users can also format text in Messages by adding bold, underline, strikethrough, or italics to letters and words.

More Tapbacks are available, allowing users to add emojis and stickers to messages, as well as access the Tapbacks you and your friends send most often.

Users can select the “send later” option and schedule messages to be delivered at a later time.

RCS (Rich Communication Services) is now supported, including delivery and read receipts, and higher resolution photos and videos, making it easier to send messages to people who don’t use an iPhone.

Passwords App

iOS 18 introduces a new, standalone Passwords app. Passwords used to be hidden in Settings, so they’re now easier to access. Verification codes for two-factor authentication can also be set up in the Passwords app.

Changes in photos

The Photos app has been redesigned in iOS 18. Collections will organize the library by topic, and users can pin a collection or further customize collections. Users can also browse photos by “last day.”

The filter button will allow you to browse by specific media types, favorites, or other views to help organize your content.

Apple Intelligence

Apple Intelligence, the much-talked-about new AI-powered feature first announced at WWDC, is not part of Monday’s iOS 18 update rollout. Apple said in a press release that users will be able to experience the Apple Intelligence feature when iOS 18.1 rolls out next month.

When it’s released, Apple Intelligence integration, which will be available for the new iPhone 16 devices as well as iPhone 15 Pro models, will offer capabilities for Siri, Photos, and a variety of other apps, such as helping you write emails and other documents, searching and organizing files and photos, and completing tasks. Apple Intelligence will also include AI-generated emoji, called “Genmojis,” and a new Image Playground.

More: Apple Launches New AI Features. What Do They Mean for Your Privacy?

Additional updates and new features include:

Live Audio Transcriptions
Map Improvements
“Tap to Pay” in Wallet
The width of the flashlight beam can be adjusted
Restart your phone option in Control Center
Custom Lock Screen Controls